Posted by tkf:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by purple012870:

Is Sean Williams's game similar to Theo Ratliff's pre-knee issues?

Williams' game is very similar to that of Ratliff but Williams is more of an athlete. Williams developed a decent post game this season as well. I wouldn't trust anyone who compares him to Cato even at the college level.

Kelvin Cato senior year in college
15th overall pick
11.3 pts 8.4 reb 4.2 blk

Sean Williams senior year in college
projected late first rd pick
12.1 pts 6.9 reb 5.0 blk

I wouldn't trust anyone who continually talks out of his ass.

those stats are almost meaningless, williams is a much better athlete than cato ever was, otuside of their numbers there is no comparison.....

[Edited by - tkf on 05-31-2007 7:25 PM]

The guy ran with some scouting analysis he found on some website. Cato never played man to man defense like Williams was asked to do at BC. Williams was asked to score more in the post this past season. He showed the ability to back his man down and score. I don't remember Cato doing that post scoring at Iowa. They both run the floor well and score on transition. They both are tremendous shot blockers. Cato was a much better rebounder than Williams. I liked Cato too but other than the block shots and running the floor. I don't see the comparisons. Williams has a thicker body and likes to bang while Cato played on the weak side more like Camby.

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by islesfan:

Posted by Pharzeone:

Posted by purple012870:

Is Sean Williams's game similar to Theo Ratliff's pre-knee issues?

Williams' game is very similar to that of Ratliff but Williams is more of an athlete. Williams developed a decent post game this season as well. I wouldn't trust anyone who compares him to Cato even at the college level.

Kelvin Cato senior year in college
15th overall pick
11.3 pts 8.4 reb 4.2 blk

Sean Williams senior year in college
projected late first rd pick
12.1 pts 6.9 reb 5.0 blk

I wouldn't trust anyone who continually talks out of his ass.

You are talking out of your ass. Did you watch either Williams or Cato play? What particular game did he remind you of Cato? How did he handle McRoberts in the paint? How did he score his baskets? So again tell me how you think he is like Cato? I wouldn't trust anyone who actually said when asked before a draft. "Other people on this board are more qualified to access college players." Translated, Briggs didn't give his scouting picks yet. Let me know if this isn't something you said. BTW, what player you scouted in the late teens you like better and why? Just curious.

Like Cato, Williams is a shotblocker, who is very raw offensively and gets most of his points within 3 feet of the basket. Unlike Cato, he's a poor rebounder and he lacks size. Plus he has HUGE character issues.

You're right though, Cato is bigger, stronger and will most likely have a better NBA career than Williams ever will.

Now explain why Cato is such a bad comparison? Williams is a better athlete, ok, what else distinguishes them when their numbers are so similar? It's gotta be a lot and very obvious since you took such great offense to the comparison.

[Edited by - islesfan on 05-31-2007 7:57 PM]

See my follow up post to TKF. You are right about the rebounding. Cato didn't bang that well in the post. Everyone just assume he would develop a post game in the NBA. Williams actually showed (albeit briefly) this past season that he is capable of scoring in the post on a regular basis if given the opportunity. He is not just a fast break player, he is capable of scoring in the half court. He is closer to Ratliff coming out of college than Cato because of this. Ratliff never develop a consistent post game (he did for a while in Atlanta).

Isiah's worst draft choice to this point has been Frye. I trust his talent evaluation ability.

Posted by nyk4ever:

Posted by MS:

the whole league smokes lets be honest, your really talking about half and thats a fair estimate. If thats all he did wrong who really cares, he can come in with some energy and block a few shots than why not

Half the league didn't get thrown out of college for smoking weed, but Williams did and you can bet there was more than just 2 instances. Those are probably just the only 2 that were reported because they had enough.

it's not like he stole any laptop computers or anything. *cough*

In Orlando: Likely Knicks Pick Pulls No-Show
By Wendell Maxey Jr.
for HOOPSWORLD.com
May 31, 2007, 11:01

Over the past couple of days, Isiah Thomas has watched a lot of basketball at Orlando's Pre-Draft camp. Some players have stuck out. Others are lost in the mix and still fighting off Pre-Draft jitters. But for Thomas, at least two players he's apparently been interested in, didn't even make the trip to Orlando, leaving Thomas and the Knicks to go with a backup plan.

New York has the 23rd overall pick in this year's NBA Draft and it's been reported that both Sean Williams out of Boston College and Morris Almond from Rice could be on the Knicks target in the first round.

Both were no-shows in Orlando.

Apparently Williams was scheduled to participate in this week’s camp but opted to not attend for some unknown personal reason. Some reports indicate he's already been guaranteed to go in the first round by an NBA club but speculation surrounds such assertions. A 6'9 center, Williams has had his share of offcourt distractions. He was dismissed from Boston College back in January during his junior season for "repeat violations of team rules."

According to a story in the Boston Herald, Williams decided three days before the start of this weeks Pre-Draft camp to skip out, leaving a group of disappointed people from league officials to team personnel with plenty of questions.

Isiah Thomas surely is one seeking answers. Do the Knicks now bring Williams in for an individual workout? Did he not attend because he's already been "promised" to land in the first round? Or does New York avoid Williams altogether and simply move on because off his issues off the court?

Morris Almond also did not attend the event in Orlando.

Almond's name has floated around some mock draft's but there has been no confirmation from the Knicks if the 6'6 guard is being considered by Thomas. Almond averaged 26.4 points per game at Rice and has shown he can play, yet he is still not a first round lock and now it appears Almond will only be involved in individual team workouts.

The Knicks have not released their individual workout schedule or names of players attending but a team representative did confirm those workouts would start as early as June 5th. Participants names would be released the day prior and much like last year, the Knicks will workout multiple players.

Now the Knicks have to determine who they are interested in working out and with Williams and Almond both absent in Orlando, at least three players in particular may have caught the attention of Thomas, Herb Williams, and Brendan Suhr who were all on-hand at Pre-Draft camp.

Demetris Nichols (6'8 forward, Syracuse), James Mays (6'9 forward, Clemson), and Kyle Visser (6'11 center, Wake Forest) all played solid in Wednesday's full court scrimmages and day long drills a day earlier. All three possess low post skills and that is the void the Knicks will look to fill. Last year, Renaldo Balkman was discovered by the Knicks while playing at Pre-Draft camp and became a first round surprise. Now Thomas hopes to pull off a repeat performance.

Both Nichols and Visser did confirm they already have workouts scheduled with the Knicks and are looking forward to the process.

Also keep Ron Lewis from Ohio State in mind. His agent Jason Levien just confirmed with Basketball News that the 6'4 versatile guard will workout for the Knicks in the next two weeks.

Nichols who played at Syracuse went 4 for 5 from beyond the arch and finished with 18 points in one exhibition game.

"As long as I play hard every single position, the sky is the limit," Nichols said shortly after scrimmage. "These next two days are important. I want to try to become a complete player. I know what it takes to become a professional."

Mays played equally well in the same contest and produced 13 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Although he was unsure if he would be working out for the Knicks, Mays is an energy guy who goes hard and would fit nicely into Thomas' lowpost plans.

"I can compete against all levels of talent," Mays said about proving himself to scouts and NBA execs. "I came out and want to prove I am in shape and I can got after it for a full game. This is only the beginning. I have to pick it up tomorrow."

Visser on the other hand is an interesting story. He had his front tooth knocked loose by an elbow in first day drills on Tuesday and spent three hours at the dentist where he received stitches. He returned later that day and finished out drills complete with a mouth piece.

"It's just a tooth. it's better than an ankle or a knee," Visser said in a postgame interview.

"I just play my game and do what is comfortable. But it's like a meat market. They (NBA personnel) are picking you apart and seeing what you can do."

Vissor signed with agent Lance Young, Bill Duffy represents Nichols, Lewis is represented by Jason Levien of Levien Sports Representation, and Mays will get together with his coach and determine what course to take next once this week's camp has concluded and all four players will head straight to begin their individual workouts.

All three have performed well under the rigors and stress of Pre-Draft camp and surly impressed the large amount of NBA personnel in attendance, including Isiah Thomas. And despite both Sean Williams and Morris Almond not attending camp, the Knicks still have plenty to choose from with their first round pick.